Career Development Portfolio

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Why create a career development portfolio?

Career development portfolios can be a great way to compile data about your personal career interests, aptitude, and awareness.
These portfolios can also be useful tools during the application and interview processes when applying for a job.
The set of documents in a portfolio serves as a collection of information about who you are and what you have to offer a potential employer.
You can keep this portfolio and update it as needed throughout your working years.

Components of a Career Development Portfolio:

Sample Resume

View Sample Resume

Information about past work experiences, volunteer activities and community projects

When working on your career portfolio, you may consider including samples of work from volunteer and/or work experiences. Here are some examples of types of work that you may want to include (these are specific to certain jobs so your individual samples may differ):

Grant Writing Proposals (individual or collaborative). Some school clubs engage in this process often and this can attest to your ability to work cooperatively in groups. It may also speak to your leadership abilities.
Floor plans or diagrams that you completed using a Computer Aided Design Program (Carpentry/Architecture related job).
Photos of hair cuts or acrylic nail designs that you completed at Champlain Valley Technical Center (Applying for a Cosmetology job).
You might include sample menus or business plans created during coursework for Culinary Arts at Champlain Valley Technical Center or during a past job (Culinary Arts, Hotel and Restaurant Management).
You may include samples of writing such a newspaper articles that you have created during high school (applying for a journalism position).

These types of materials and samples would show a potential employer that you are prepared and offer them some insight into the quality of work that you are capable of.

Academic Information

Information that you would include in this section would be:

Transcripts
When requesting a transcript to include in your career portfolio, request an official copy from your school counseling (guidance) office.

Copy of High School diploma
Do not include the original copy in the portfolio (as not to loose the original), but do provide a photocopy.
Copy of any transcripts from college courses you have taken.
If you have taken any non-matriculated college courses through Clinton Community College or Plattsburgh State (through Plattsburgh High School or independently), request a copy of your transcript from the college registrar’s office as proof that you have earned credit in those courses.
A copy of any certifications you have earned
If you have earned any certifications pertinent to your job or field of work (i.e. CPR certification (medical field), ASE Certification (automotive field), or even certificates that you have earned through programs of study at CV-TEC), include copies of those certifications. Including these types of documents will let the potential employer know that you have current training and that you are skilled in your field of study.
Licenses (CDL License, Cosmetology License etc…)
Special awards or accomplishments earned that may be related to the work you are applying for.

Learning style and career interest inventories

Why include information about learning styles, personality traits, and career interests/attitudes in your career portfolio?

This allows the employer to access information about how well you might fit into his/her work environment. Including a Myers-Briggs Assessment, and results from even an ASVAB (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery) test can produce volumes of information about your potential as a future employee. Below is a list of internet sources. This, of course, is not an exhaustive list, but this will get you started. Please note that there are many other online resources and print sources as well. You can consult your school counselor for more information or if you have questions.

Learning Style Questionnaires

Vark Learning Styles Questionnaire: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

Learning Style Inventory and Descriptions: http://www.learning-styles-online.com/inventory/

Personality Inventories

Personality Inventory: http://typefocus.com

Jung/Myers-Briggs Typology: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm

Personality Type: www.personalitytype.com/quiz.asp

Career Interest/Aptitude Inventories

Career Exploration Website (through ASVAB) – http://www.asvabprogram.com/

Career Tests – http://www.queendom.com/

Self-Directed Search (Career Interest Inventory) – www.self-directed-search.com/

Work Preference Inventory – http://www.careerperfect.com/services/free/work-preference/?trk=1-20080928-48e0281b349af

Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

Inquire about this in the Guidance Office- this is for those going into military services and for those seeking more help with career exploration.